Post by Michael Capasse on Sept 1, 2023 11:22:52 GMT -5
Gunsmoke
"Gunsmoke" was both a radio and television series for CBS Broadcasting.
It was a Western, that premiered stories about US Marshal, Matt Dillon from Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870's.
The TV cast began with, James Arness, in the lead, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, and Dennis Weaver supporting.
It started as a half-hour series, then was extended to one hour in 1961, and was filmed in color beginning in 1966.
It was extremely successful, at the time, the longest running show on television, 20 seasons, from 1955-1975.
Still, the longest-running dramatic series in network television history with 635 episodes.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The New Society
In May 1965, Gunsmoke aired the episode, "The New Society", it was one of the few story lines outside of Dodge and without
the supporting cast. US Marshal, Matt Dillon, is ordered to ride out to Ridge Town and reopen a murder investigation.
Army Major Franklin was the Finance Officer for the nearby, Army base, Fort Ridge. He was shot and killed 12 years earlier.
At the time of the killing, the sheriff was John Scanlon, an old friend of Matt's. "... the guy that got me into this business."
John was there the night Franklin was shot. In all the confusion a stray bullet hit him just above the waistline and confined
him to a wheelchair. The investigation concluded that the killer was a local outlaw, Felix Smith. He was run out of town.
The former sheriff had always maintained he was shot from about 50 feet, it was dark. The shooter had gotten away.
When Matt arrived in town, all the people stopped and stared. They had heard the Army was sending a US Marshal.
Though, Fort Ridge was gone 10 years now, and the Major has been dead for twelve. Whatever the reason,
it probably was not good for the town. Some of Matt's first questions were met with hostile response, as a
town wide secret began to emerge.
Ridge Town, built itself on the back of Fort Ridge, for all their supplies. banking, hardware, livery, essentially everything.
This, Major Franklin, took full advantage of the opportunity for himself in the form of kickbacks and price gouging.
Soon the whole town was mixed up in these schemes of robbing the Army blind. As the Finance Officer, Franklin would threaten
to pull the Army business if the shopkeeper or merchant didn't cooperate. He was despised throughout town.
A series of conflicts occurred involving the townspeople and the Marshal. Matt was arrested on false charges and run out of town.
He was beat up pretty bad, when he met up with a friend he had made. Wesley, helped him get back in to town and Scanlon interceded.
Matt told Scanlon that, prior to his arriving, he had tracked down Felix Smith. The outlaw swore on his deathbed he did not
kill Franklin. Then, when Matt learned who the real killer was, and the reason, he had to walk away without pressing charges.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Settle for a Little Less
In the Spring of '65, President Johnson was continuing his series of domestic programs derived from Kennedy's "New Frontier"
"Great Society" was LBJs package of initiatives in urban problems, medical care, education, transportation, and rural poverty.
At the same time, the CBS Television Network, was always a supporter of the government's conclusions in the assassination,
and here, they allowed the obvious allusion to the name of a program, as a reference to LBJ, and a critical response to the
carpers of the Commission. Critics of the investigation were getting louder and gaining traction thru self published books and radio.
There was a time, when it was said to be un-American, and disrespectful to the Kennedy family, to question the Report.
And so, the writers provided a story of a murder and a massive coverup. A secret so big, no one must ever know.
There is an innocent man accused of the crime and a single bullet that took a crazy path after fracturing a rib.
Consider the banker, Mr. Bennings, like many other innocent witnesses, dragged into this case, left only by what the record will show.
The town and reputations of all the people would be completely destroyed. Matt knew he had to move on. Ridge Town had suffered enough.
Sheriff: "Tell the Army it's a dead end, Matt. Tell them this Felix Smith was, uh... out of his head when he died and leave it at that.."
This episode is available for free on Pluto.tv
Though, the channel has incorrectly cataloged it as, "S10 E35 | Two Tall Men"
"Gunsmoke" was both a radio and television series for CBS Broadcasting.
It was a Western, that premiered stories about US Marshal, Matt Dillon from Dodge City, Kansas, in the 1870's.
The TV cast began with, James Arness, in the lead, Milburn Stone, Amanda Blake, and Dennis Weaver supporting.
It started as a half-hour series, then was extended to one hour in 1961, and was filmed in color beginning in 1966.
It was extremely successful, at the time, the longest running show on television, 20 seasons, from 1955-1975.
Still, the longest-running dramatic series in network television history with 635 episodes.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
The New Society
In May 1965, Gunsmoke aired the episode, "The New Society", it was one of the few story lines outside of Dodge and without
the supporting cast. US Marshal, Matt Dillon, is ordered to ride out to Ridge Town and reopen a murder investigation.
Army Major Franklin was the Finance Officer for the nearby, Army base, Fort Ridge. He was shot and killed 12 years earlier.
At the time of the killing, the sheriff was John Scanlon, an old friend of Matt's. "... the guy that got me into this business."
John was there the night Franklin was shot. In all the confusion a stray bullet hit him just above the waistline and confined
him to a wheelchair. The investigation concluded that the killer was a local outlaw, Felix Smith. He was run out of town.
The former sheriff had always maintained he was shot from about 50 feet, it was dark. The shooter had gotten away.
When Matt arrived in town, all the people stopped and stared. They had heard the Army was sending a US Marshal.
Though, Fort Ridge was gone 10 years now, and the Major has been dead for twelve. Whatever the reason,
it probably was not good for the town. Some of Matt's first questions were met with hostile response, as a
town wide secret began to emerge.
Ridge Town, built itself on the back of Fort Ridge, for all their supplies. banking, hardware, livery, essentially everything.
This, Major Franklin, took full advantage of the opportunity for himself in the form of kickbacks and price gouging.
Soon the whole town was mixed up in these schemes of robbing the Army blind. As the Finance Officer, Franklin would threaten
to pull the Army business if the shopkeeper or merchant didn't cooperate. He was despised throughout town.
A series of conflicts occurred involving the townspeople and the Marshal. Matt was arrested on false charges and run out of town.
He was beat up pretty bad, when he met up with a friend he had made. Wesley, helped him get back in to town and Scanlon interceded.
Matt told Scanlon that, prior to his arriving, he had tracked down Felix Smith. The outlaw swore on his deathbed he did not
kill Franklin. Then, when Matt learned who the real killer was, and the reason, he had to walk away without pressing charges.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Settle for a Little Less
In the Spring of '65, President Johnson was continuing his series of domestic programs derived from Kennedy's "New Frontier"
"Great Society" was LBJs package of initiatives in urban problems, medical care, education, transportation, and rural poverty.
At the same time, the CBS Television Network, was always a supporter of the government's conclusions in the assassination,
and here, they allowed the obvious allusion to the name of a program, as a reference to LBJ, and a critical response to the
carpers of the Commission. Critics of the investigation were getting louder and gaining traction thru self published books and radio.
There was a time, when it was said to be un-American, and disrespectful to the Kennedy family, to question the Report.
And so, the writers provided a story of a murder and a massive coverup. A secret so big, no one must ever know.
There is an innocent man accused of the crime and a single bullet that took a crazy path after fracturing a rib.
Consider the banker, Mr. Bennings, like many other innocent witnesses, dragged into this case, left only by what the record will show.
The town and reputations of all the people would be completely destroyed. Matt knew he had to move on. Ridge Town had suffered enough.
Sheriff: "Tell the Army it's a dead end, Matt. Tell them this Felix Smith was, uh... out of his head when he died and leave it at that.."
This episode is available for free on Pluto.tv
Though, the channel has incorrectly cataloged it as, "S10 E35 | Two Tall Men"